Dish rack

ABSTRACT

A dish rack having a base, a plurality of substantially straight partition members integral with and emanating upwardly from the base, the plurality of partition members spaced apart and parallel with one another, where the plurality of partition members in combination with the base form a corresponding plurality of channels, where each channel is formed by the base and two adjacent partition members, and a plurality of drainage apertures, each aperture located in the base and in the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of drainage apertures having a longitudinal axis, and each aperture arranged in the base and in each channel such that the longitudinal axis is arranged diagonally with respect to each of the plurality of partition members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to devices for drying dishes and, more particularly, to a space saving device for drying dishes that is compact for easy storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dish racks are well known articles of manufacture, which provide a user with an area to dry and store various types of kitchenware and flatware, such as plates, bowls, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, etc. Generally, a dish rack includes a base, a plurality of drainage apertures, and a plurality of partition members operatively arranged to hold and dry kitchenware and flatware. The plurality of partition members usually either extend upwardly from the base or extend downwardly from a frame that encloses the perimeter of the dish rack.

A problem with prior dish racks is that they are generally large and bulky, taking up valuable storage space. This is due to the fact that the plurality of partition members is usually larger than necessary to hold kitchenware upright.

Another problem with prior dish racks is that the plurality of drainage apertures is generally parallel to the plurality of partition members, allowing smaller items, such as flatware, to fall through the apertures.

Yet another problem with prior dish racks is that they are generally made from metal materials which tend to corrode over time.

Thus, there is a long-felt need for a dish rack that is compact for easy storage, having a plurality of partition members that are high enough to hold kitchenware upright but not excessively high as to waste storage space. In addition, there is a long-felt need for a dish rack that includes a plurality of drainage apertures arranged diagonally with respect to each of the plurality of partition members. There is also a long-felt need for a dish rack made from a variety of materials in addition to metal, including plastic, ceramic, vulcanized rubber, etc.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a dish rack having a base, a plurality of substantially straight partition members integral with and emanating upwardly from the base, the plurality of partition members spaced apart and parallel with one another, where the plurality of partition members in combination with the base form a corresponding plurality of channels, where each channel is formed by the base and two adjacent partition members, and a plurality of drainage apertures, each aperture located in the base and in the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of drainage apertures having a longitudinal axis, and each aperture arranged in the base and in each channel such that the longitudinal axis is arranged diagonally with respect to each of the plurality of partition members.

A general object of the invention is to provide a dish rack in a compact form for easy storage, having a plurality of partition members operatively arranged to accommodate the upright holding and drying of kitchenware as well as the holding and drying of flatware.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention in view of the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown holding various kitchenware items;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the dish rack;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of area 3 identified in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4A-4A in FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4B-4B in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. It also should be appreciated that figure proportions and angles are not always to scale in order to clearly portray the attributes of the present invention.

While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. The present invention is intended to include various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and, as such, may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that the term “substantially” is synonymous with terms such as “nearly”, “very nearly about”, “approximately”, “around”, “bordering on”, “close to”, “essentially”, “in the neighborhood of”, “in the vicinity of”, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

Adverting now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of dish rack 10. Base 20 of dish rack 10 is adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface, such as countertop 11, adjacent sink basin 18, etc. Dish rack 10 is operatively arranged to hold and retain a variety of kitchenware 12 for draining, e.g., plates, bowls, glasses, silverware, and the like. Dish rack 10 may hold a variety of kitchenware 12 in channels shown and described infra. Water 14 from the kitchenware flows downwardly into the channels. Some of the water falls through a plurality of apertures best shown in FIG. 2, while some of the water falls off substantially horizontal floor 22 of the dish rack, forming puddle 16 on countertop 11.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of dish rack 10. Dish rack 10 generally comprises base 20, plurality of partition members 40A, 40B, 40C . . . 40L, plurality of channels 50A, 50B, 50C . . . 50K arranged between the partition members, and plurality of apertures 80A, 80B, etc., arranged in substantially horizontal floor 22 of dish rack 10. Plurality of partition members 40A, 40B, 40C . . . 40L is integral with and emanate upwardly from base 20. Although dish rack 10 includes eleven (11) partition members, ten (10) channel, and one hundred (100) apertures in a preferred embodiment, it is should be apparent that dish rack 10 may include a fewer or greater number of partition members, channels, and apertures. In a preferred embodiment, the partition members 40A, 40B, 40C . . . 40L are disposed substantially parallel to one another.

Plurality of partition members 40A, 40B, 40C . . . 40L in combination with base 20 form a corresponding plurality of channels 50A, 50B, 50C . . . 50K. Specifically, channel 50A is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40A and 40B; channel 50B is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40B and 40C; channel 50C is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40C and 40D; channel 50D is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40D and 40E; channel 50E is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40E and 40F; channel 50F is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40F and 40G; channel 50G is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40G and 40H; channel 50H is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40H and 40J; channel 50J is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40J and 40K; and channel 50K is formed by base 20 and two adjacent partition members 40K and 40L.

Although base 20 includes four (4) edges 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D in a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent that base 20 may include a fewer or greater number of edges. Two edges 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D connect at one corner 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D to form perimeter 21 surrounding base 20. Specifically, corner 23A adjoins two adjacent edges 29A and 29D; corner 23B adjoins two adjacent edges 29A and 29B; corner 23C adjoins two adjacent edges 29B and 29C; and corner 23D adjoins two adjacent edges 29C and 29D. Each edge 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D curves downwardly to facilitate water runoff. Each corner 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D is rounded not only for aesthetics but for safety and durability as well. Sharp corners are more prone to cause injuries and more predisposed to chipping and breakage. Although each partition member 40A, 40B, 40C . . . 40L is identical to one another in a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent that partition members may vary in shape and dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, each partition member 40A, 40B, 40C . . . 40L is approximately 24.5 centimeters in length, approximately 1 centimeter in width, and approximately 2.5 centimeters in height (but, obviously, the dish rack and its partition members and channels could be made in other dimensions). Top surface 62 of each partition member 40A, 40B, 40C . . . 40L comprises two edges 60A, 60B which curve downwardly to facilitate water runoff. Top surface 62 curves downwardly at edges 60A, 60B to transition into side walls 66. Although each channel 50A, 50B, 50C . . . 50K is identical to one another in a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent that channels may vary in shape and dimensions. In particular, each channel 50A, 50B, 50C . . . 50K is approximately 24.5 centimeters in length, approximately 1.5 centimeters in width, and approximately 2.5 centimeters in depth. Although each aperture 80A, 80B, etc., is identical to one another in a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that apertures may vary in dimensions. Specifically, each aperture 80A, 80B, etc., is approximately 1.5 centimeters in diameter lengthwise, approximately 0.5 centimeters in diameter widthwise, and approximately 0.1 centimeters in depth.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of area 3 identified in FIG. 2. Each partition member 40A, 40B, emanates upwardly from base 20 at curved transition portion 68. Each side wall 66 and each arcuate end 64 of each partition member 40A, 40B are adjoined to substantially horizontal floor 22 of base 20 at curved transition portion 68. In addition, each drainage aperture 80A, 80B is integral with base 20 and disposed within each channel 50A. Each aperture 80A, 80B has longitudinal axis 4B-4B and is arranged such that the longitudinal axis 4B-4B is diagonal with respect to each partition member 40A, 40B. Because of the diagonal arrangement of each aperture 80A, 80B, water drains and kitchenware 12 (not shown in FIG. 3) remains in place, whereas in dish racks where drainage apertures are parallel to partition members, smaller kitchenware has a tendency to fall through the drainage apertures. Perimeter 88 of each drainage aperture 80A, 80B is curved downwardly to facilitate water runoff.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4A-4A in FIG. 3. This figure further depicts the arcuate shape of top surface 62 of each partition member 40A, 40B and the substantially horizontal floor 22 of each channel 50A. Top surface 62 is substantially perpendicular to each side wall 66. The center of top surface 62 is substantially horizontal and top surface 62 gradually curves downwardly outward from the center of top surface 62 towards each edge 60A, 60B which continues to curve downwardly to form each vertical side wall 66. FIG. 4A further illustrates each partition member 40A, 40B integral with base 20 at curved transition portion 68. Each vertical side wall 66 begins to curve downwardly at transition portion 68 and continues to curve outwardly to form substantially horizontal floor 22 of base 20.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4B-4B in FIG. 3. This figure further illustrates downwardly curved perimeter 88 of each aperture 80A. Because of downwardly curved perimeter 88, water does not collect within each channel and instead flows into each aperture 80A or over edges 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D (not shown in FIG. 4B) to drain.

Dish rack 10 may be made of any substantially suitable material, for example, plastic, ceramic, vulcanized rubber, etc. In a preferred embodiment, dish rack 10 is made of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic. ABS plastic is a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products. ABS plastic is preferred for its mechanical toughness, good dimensional stability, ease of fabrication, and resistance to corrosion. While FIGS. 1 and 2 depict dish rack 10 as substantially rectangular in shape, it should be understood that the particular shape of dish rack 10 may be modified without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In addition, while FIGS. 1-4A show each aperture 80A, 80B as substantially oblong in shape, it should be appreciated that the particular shape of each drainage aperture may be modified without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A dish rack comprising: a base; a plurality of substantially straight partition members integral with and emanating upwardly from said base, said plurality of partition members spaced apart and parallel with one another, wherein said plurality of partition members in combination with said base form a corresponding plurality of channels, where each channel is formed by said base and two adjacent partition members; and, a plurality of drainage apertures, each said aperture located in said base and in said plurality of channels, each of said plurality of drainage apertures having a longitudinal axis, and each said aperture arranged in said base and in each said channel such that said longitudinal axis is arranged diagonally with respect to each of said plurality of partition members.
 2. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein each said partition member is identical.
 3. The dish rack recited in claim 2, wherein each said partition member is approximately 24.5 centimeters in length by approximately 1 centimeter in width by approximately 2.5 centimeters in height.
 4. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein each said channel is identical.
 5. The dish rack recited in claim 4, wherein each said channel is approximately 24.5 centimeters in length by approximately 1.5 centimeters in width by approximately 2.5 centimeters in depth.
 6. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein each said aperture is identical.
 7. The dish rack recited in claim 6, wherein each said aperture is approximately 1.5 centimeters in diameter lengthwise by approximately 0.5 centimeters in diameter widthwise by approximately 0.1 centimeters in depth.
 8. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein said base is rectangular in shape.
 9. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein each said drainage aperture is oblong in shape.
 10. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein said base comprises at least three edges, said at least three edges form a perimeter around said base, and said at least three edges are rounded downwardly to facilitate water runoff.
 11. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein each said partition member has a top surface and said top surface curves downwardly.
 12. The dish rack recited in claim 1, wherein said dish rack is made of plastic. 